Ever Been To A Theme Park On A Cold Day? What Was It Like?

[tcufrog]

A couple of Decembers ago there was unexpected cold snap at Osborne Lights. DS6 was freezing so we stopped for hot cocoa and bought him a hoodie.

 

[flortlebap]

I did Disneyland Paris when it was 20 degrees in October. And snowing, which is quite rare in Paris. It was fun, but really cold! I definitely prefer August in Florida!

Went again at the same time of year and it was 75 degrees... got to love European weather!

 

[adamreisinger]

As a child, I was at Disney World for Christmas 1989, when there was snow on the ground (yes, really!). More recently, my sister and I were there in early December last year during MVMCP and it got down into the 50s. As someone who has lived in New England for most of my life, I actually enjoyed the chill, but there were plenty of people in the parks bundling up (or fleeing for the warmth of their hotel rooms).

Honestly, if I could find a way to only go to the parks when it was below 60, I'd totally do that. Because, as someone once said, the cold never bothered me anyway.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We went in November once, and it was unusually chilly. We wore jackets every day except one, and we ended up buying gloves for 3 of us. DH and I went for our anniversary in February one year and it was cold too. Mid-upper 40's, but it felt cold. I didn't like it. I would much rather have heat than cold.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I was there during the freezing Dec. in 2010 when the parks were in the low 20's, early 30's. I had planned for it - I wore layers and would start the day in them but by mid-day most were in my backpack. When the sun went down, all the layers were being worn including a hat and gloves.

I wore a thick hoodie, hat, gloves, scarf, a fleece jacket over the hoodie, a long sleeve denim shirt or flannel shirt depending on the day, a long sleeve t-shirt material shirt and a tank top under it all most days that trip.
On a particularly cold evening, I had checked the weather and taken a break in my room and saw how bad it was going to be. That was the night I was going to be in World Showcase so I put on a pair of long underwear that I'd brought under my jeans. I was warm and toasty while I saw plenty of people complaining of the cold that night.

 

[RobinDragonryder]

December of 2012, I believe, there were record lows and it was bad the day we went to EPCOT. Note: If the wind is blowing hard, don't try to walk under Spaceship Earth against the wind. It's like walking against a brick wall. We ended up having to buy hoodies/hats/gloves in the Canada pavilion because it was so cold. I'd say pack for the cold, and stick the extra in a backpack so you can get it out if you need it.

 

[BalooFan]

I don't remember what year it was, but I was there in early February (if memory serves) and it was around 32 degrees a couple of mornings. Now, 32 degrees at home at that time of the year is no big deal. But when you're hoping to leave the cold for the warmth of sunny Florida and instead find yourself shivering on an open boat from Wilderness Lodge to MK, you bet that 32 degrees is cold! The weather was comfortable to cool during my December trips. I never needed more than a sweatshirt in December.

 

[Apopper74]

November 2014 there was a sudden cold snap that caught most off guard. What was supposed to be in the low 80's was 55. I remember leaving for MK rope drop and being comfortable in my shorts, in the course of 1.5 hrs standing waiting for the opening show to begin it got windy and dropped to 55. Once open people ran to the stores and bought anything they could, there were people wrapped in blankets running through the park. If I had my jeans and sweatshirt I would have been comfortable, shorts & t-shirt not cutting it.

 

[Surgie2]

We were there the first week of January 2008 where one night was 32F and another not much above that. Very chilly days. We wore NorthFace fleece, hats and gloves and drank a lot of coffee and hot chocolate in the mornings. Never January again! I live in Illinois so if I want 32 I can stay home! If we would have at least had some sun it would've helped and maybe we did a bit on a day or two but most days were cloudy and very cool with cold nights. However, no rain so that was the good news. We still had a good time but it was my son's third winter Florida trip where there were "record" lows and after that he said no more Florida in the winter. I'm sure others have had beautiful January days but we just haven't hit it right. It always amuses me when someone asks about using pools or going to waterparks in January - are you kidding me??!?

 

[DWillowBay]

went in January a few years back and it was extremely cold. It was 28 degrees the morning we were at Animal Kingdom. They had heaters out keeping the trees warm. Rode Everest that morning and it was painfully cold.

We might have been there the same day. I remember that scenario! ...when I rode EE then, it was slightly raining...it was like KNIVES piercing my soul!!! Pain! I had to laugh because it was so unanticipated!! Yeti, Schmetti....I was getting sliced !

 

[disneytoatee]

For my 16th Birthday, almost 14 years ago when we still lived in Central Florida, we headed on over to the parks and it was a record cold day.(40s). It was absolutely bone-chilling, and yes while I was a Floridian at the time, it was so insanely cold. All day long. We still had a great time, but it's just absolutely bone-chilling.

We've lived in Tennessee for years now, so I've gotten used to the cold winters. I've become pretty acclimated and don't usually need a jacket unless it's in the 20s or something. However, even in the 60s when we went this past March, I was so uncomfortably cold. I do not get bone-chilled cold here like I do when I'm in Florida. It just gets to me! I know it's a lot to do with the humidity in the air plus the wind... On the days I had plenty of layers, it was fine... but on the days I did not prepare well, I was pretty miserable until the sun really started shining, and sipped plenty of hot drinks.

 

[dosekies]

I've been to Six Flags Great America in Illinois while it was in the high 40s-low 50s. It really would not have been bad except for the fact that it was super windy, so it made it feel a lot colder while waiting outside in lines.

 

[ols386]

We've been there before in early December and it got down around 30', and it was windy. Thankfully it wasn't rainy. If we weren't dressed for it, we would have been miserable. Take a day or two of cold weather clothing.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Yup. When DS10 was 2 we took him for the very first time. Had to be.....February of 2009. The week we were there it never got over 50 degrees and at night? 20 degrees. We wore coats and hats in the parks. It was fun (no water rides, obviously) but I would have preferred it to be at least 15 degrees warmer. We planned our next trip for September deliberately.

 

[Princess Mulan]

I survived record cold at WDW by wearing layers, and fortunately today's cold-weather fabrics are thin and easily packable. Here's what I packed: "long underwear" tops and bottoms (such as Under Armour or Cuddleduds), comfortable pants (yoga or gym pants for me), shirts (short-sleeve golf shirts can easily be layered over Under Armour tops), a pullover or sweatshirt, and a windproof/waterproof jacket. (Note that windproof/waterproof is different from wind-resistant/water-resistant, which will allow wind and moisture to seep through.)

I also packed thin gloves, a thin knit hat and a cotton knit scarf. All were easy to stash in jacket pockets when they weren't needed.

I adjusted the layers as necessary and was comfortable in the parks. Remember that temps feel colder at WDW than at home. Forty degrees might be considered balmy where some of us are forced to spend our winters, but 40 at WDW can be downright bone-chilling cold!

ETA: I forgot to list that I also packed windproof/waterproof pants to wear over my yoga pants for really cold evenings. Keeping the wind at bay is key!

 

[butiflfeet]

Yeah, turns out the humidity makes it feel colder so you might think you're good going in and out of buildings without a coat when it's 30 degrees up north but in Florida it's a whole different world where you'll need to put on some more layers when it's 50 degrees. Pack for any weather in December though because it's all possible, despite what the forecast says. Layers are your friend.

 

[Klayfish]

This is a great question and fun read. I spent the first 40+ years of my life in PA, with a lot of it being within 70 miles of the Pocono mountains. So I got very used to Nor'easters and blizzards. Now that I'm middle age and have spent the past 3 years in Atlanta, I hope I never see snow again. Ever.

Of the course of my life, I would estimate that I have spent roughly 150 total days inside WDW parks. Not one of them was a day where the high didn't reach at least 80 degrees. Not one. We always went in the summer. Only in 2015/2016 did we finally make trips that weren't June/July or October. We went Thanksgiving and Christmas 2015 and Presidents Day 2016. By luck, all 3 of those trips had unusually warm weather. In fact, Christmas was record warmth. Only one night during our February trip did I have to wear anything besides shorts and a t-shirt...the last 2 hours of one MK night it got into the low 60s, so I put on a long sleeve t-shirt. So while it would be nice to not sweat like crazy, a truly cold day in WDW just wouldn't feel "right" to me, as I'm so used to the heat here (I'm here now...have to work today...can't wait until 4pm so I can hit the parks). We plan to be here for Thanksgiving and Xmas again this year and I'm hoping for a heat wave again. I can live with 70s and 80, but don't want a 50 degree day.

I have been to Six Flags in the cold. Not fun.

 

[Praying Colonel]

We've been a couple of times when there were frost/freeze advisories with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s and highs in the upper 40s/low 50s. Yes, it's warmer than back home, but it still feels really cold. Not sure if it's the humidity in the air or what, but it feels cold.

I remember back in Jan 14 DW and I were having lunch at EP and we chose Tangierine Café over Spice Road Table because we could grab a table out in the sun and try to warm up. High was about 52 that day.

It's an unusual situation, especially when you're used to going in summer and trying to avoid overheating. Weird to see everyone in coats, gloves and wool caps.

 

[hsmamato2]

Yes. The parks are a blast even in cold weather of course, but you have to dress for it. The sweatshirts they sell are REALLY overpriced, b/c they know most people assume warm weather,and then get stuck when it's cold buying one. (I will never pay $75 for a sweatshirt) I always always pack layers. t shirts, a ls or two,a light fleece, and a windbreaker/rain jacket can all be layered in various ways for any weather. Also a cheap pair of stretch gloves for really cold nights(I've been there when it was less than 30 at night..... one memorable trip we never saw it get higher than 50 f at the warmest part of the day......

 

[LucyBC80]

This is me waiting to ride BTMRR on November, around 38F. For me it was definitely VERY cold as our winter is a joke. But we had fun and got to enjoy lots of rides while everyone else went back to their hotels. As long as you got some layers going braving the cold isn't that hard to do.